BLOOD HORSES AND HACKS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1698, 29 October 1887, Page 2

BLOOD HORSES AND HACKS.

Three of the thoroughbreds located m the district competed m the class for entires of any age. Wiz-rd and Dlgby Grand are too well-known to need description, and It must be Bald tbat the decision of the judges, plaolng Wizard at the head of the class, caused great sur- j prise. Dlgby Grand waß In oupiial form, and has the qualities specified Id the conditions m a marked degroe, as is proved by the excellence of his young stock ; while Wizard looked light, overed^ no ground, and was altogether more like a progenitor of racing fliers than of serviceable haoks and hunters. The grandly brod Liverpool, who has recently come into the district, waa very muoh admired, though he has not yet been got j Into show condition. He bids fair to make a valuable addition to the high strains of blood already here, and as he has great substance and no hereditary 1 defect, it is difficult to undentand why he was not noticed by the judges, Another horse that was badly ÜBed was Mi. Grlgg's ohestnut colt by Apremoot — Fleurange, a fine upstanding colt with great Bubatanoo, showing all tho qualities deairable In a hunter. He was treated the previous night to the un.accustomed luxury of a box, and showed his dislike to civilisation by knocking himself about very badly, which was probably tho reason he failed to sucure a ftrtt prlae, Of the two brood mares

S- ill"" IUW shown, Me Tasker'a Minnie was muoh the superior, Tbe one two-year-old was a grand filly by Dlgby Grand from Hypatia. Blackwood Abdallah was the only oarrlage entire, and was awarded a. 'first prlza. Bis stoutness, fine action, and SDoed stamp him as a very useful mate for good, light harness mares. Mr GriggV three-year-old, by the other American trotter Berlin, showed more quality, and should get good buggy horses. One two year-oid entire came forward, namely. Prince Herbert, a splendid colt by Dieby Grand from ,a Bluelight mare. Beside* being himself the making of a grand hunter, he should grow into the stamp of omntry sire that is most wanted at present. A good brood mare was ahown by Mr John Grigg, but the yonnger classes m this section, though generally good, wore not of Bpeofal excellence. Two good buggy pairs were present. The priz ) went to Mr James Qalgley's greya, very evenly matohed, and very fast, Mr Seoretan'a more showy black and brown pair being a.warded Seooud prize, and, as ia well known, their travelling abilities are of a very high order. Th© only single baggy horse, Dr Tweed's Traitor gelding, Barney, who was first last year, again gained the award whioh bo thoroughly good a horse merited. Three dog-cart horses were Bhown, none of tfaem i much to look at. Mr D Thomas' roan j msfco Sally, a capital mover and very fast, was deservedly first ; 'Mr; Templo'B Baron, by bhot, a coareish sort, with cart hotse action, second ; and Mr Gh Jameson's Waihora, a big chestnut, that looked a great deal more like a farmer's hunter horso than a dog cart horee, was highly commended Mr Croy'a Quamby'was one to which tbe same description might be applied, though he has far more quality. There were Beveral good horses among the hacks, both heavy and light classes, but j some were quite out of place on a show ground. Mr Shearer's Mignonette is an exceptionally good one, and Mr Anstey's a first rater ; and Mr Cunningham's Matuura, a nice horse for a light weight. Mataura was adjudged the best of tiie open class for hacks (Mr John Qrigg's special prize,) ; but several of the best ot the hack*, did not encer for this prize. Messrs Mawson Bros' Kingfisher yearling was selected as most likely to make a waight-carrier, and the three which competed were very nice yougsters. Four ladios and a boy, with hia legs m a bag, brought m the five competitors for | Ldies hacks. Mies M 'ln tyre's bay gelding Shedwick wa_ by far the best of them, being a really nice hack, and a beautiful mover. Mrs Reid's OJrig, .who is more of tho hunter type, Beemed to find the ring too smal for hie free action Mrs Wilkie waß on a nearly white mare, which wa3 not altogether a beauty, but her finibhed equestrianism gained her Mr Anderson's whip for that aepurtment. Mr Dawson's Prinoe Herbart and W. Siandlsh's fi ly were selected m the order named as being likely to grow Into the best weight- carrying huuters, A large number of good ponies were paraded, most of them pure -bred. They and their riders were a very Interesting adjunct of the Bhow, and the judges ex pressed themselves very favorably regardlug them. There were four competitors for the prizes for horae shoeing all the animals | beiog very well shod. The brothers' Kingßton took- firat and seoond priz.s.